HOW TO GET A CHILD CARE LICENSE - Mississippi

1 1. HOW TO GET A CHILD care LICENSE . BEFORE YOU MAY OPEN A CHILD care FACILITY, YOU MUST HAVE A TEMPORARY LICENSE . Please note that the licensing process may take 90 days or longer to complete. In addition, you may not begin operation before you receive a temporary LICENSE . DO YOU NEED A LICENSE ? A LICENSE is required if you care for six or more children less than thirteen years of age, for any part of the twenty-four- hour day, who are not related (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers/sisters, nieces/nephews) to you. This includes day care centers, day nurseries, and any other facilities that fall within the scope of the above description. See exemptions to the licensing law listed below.

2 PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION FOR OBTAINING A LICENSE AND OPERATING A CHILD care FACILITY. BELOW. Once you have reviewed the information, you may fill out an online application to begin the licensing process at . Once the application has been submitted, a CHILD care Licensing Inspector will contact you regarding further actions to be completed. For answers to common questions regarding the online application process, please visit our FAQ page at For those who have limited internet access and need assistance with completing an application please contact Cassie Hillhouse at the Office of CHILD care Licensure at or by calling 601- 364-2827. To download a copy of the Regulations Governing the Licensure of CHILD care Facilities or a copy of the Regulations Governing the Licensure of CHILD care Facilities for 12 or Fewer Children in the Operator's Home go to the MSDH website at In the Licensure or Regulation sections of the website under CHILD care & Youth Camps or CHILD care Facilities areas, you will find a list of documents concerning CHILD care in Mississippi including the regulations.

3 143-Lefleurs Square Post Office Box 1700 Jackson, MS 39215-1700. Bureau of Health Facilities Division of Professional Licensure Division of CHILD care Licensure Criminal History Record Check Unit 601/364-1100 Fax 601/364-5055 Equal Opportunity in Employment/Services 2. EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSURE: CHILD care facilities which operate for no more than two (2) days a week and whose primary purpose is to provide respite for the caregiver or temporary care during other scheduled or related activities. Organized programs that operate for three (3) or less weeks per year include but not limited to vacation bible schools and scout day camps. Any CHILD residential home as defined in and in compliance with the provisions of Section 43-16-3 (b) et seq.

4 , Mississippi Code of 1972. Any program in an elementary (including kindergarten) and/or secondary school system accredited by the Mississippi State Department of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The Mississippi Private School Association, the American Association of Christian Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, or a school affiliated with Accelerated Christian Education, Inc. This includes accredited pre-K3. and pre-K4 Programs. Programs serving children less than three (3) years of age must be licensed. Any Head Start program operating in conjunction with an elementary school system, whether it is public, private, or parochial, whose primary purpose is a structured school or school readiness program.

5 This includes Head Start pre-K3 and pre-K4 programs. Head Start programs serving children less than three (3) years of age must be licensed. Any family CHILD care home defined in Mississippi Code Section 43-20-53 (a) et seq. To wit: An occupied residence in which shelter and personal care is regularly provided for five (5) or fewer children who are not related within the third degree computed according to the civil law to the provider and who are under 13. years of age and are provided care for any part of the twenty-four hour day. These homes may be voluntarily registered with the Mississippi State Department of Health. Any membership organization affiliated with a national organization which charges only a nominal annual membership fee, does not receive monthly, weekly, or daily payments for services, and is certified by its national association as complying with the association's minimum standards and procedures, including, but not limited to, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the YMCA.

6 A nominal fee is defined as $600 or less per calendar year. If you have questions regarding exemptions, contact the CHILD care Facilities Licensure Division at 601-364- 2827. 3. DO I QUALIFY FOR A LICENSE ? Before a temporary LICENSE can be issued, a center must have a qualified director to operate it. To be deemed qualified, the director must: 1. Be at least twenty-one years of age, 2. Have a valid MSDH Immunization Form 121, 3. Pass all fingerprint, CHILD Abuse Central Registry, and Sex Offender checks, 4. Must have taken the mandatory training on the Regulations Governing Licensure of CHILD care Facilities, Directors Orientation, and Playground Safety, and 5. Meet one of the following education and/or experience requirements: A.

7 A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, CHILD development, elementary education, CHILD care , special education, psychology (with emphasis on CHILD psychology), or family and consumer sciences (with emphasis on CHILD development), or equivalent degree from another CHILD -related field or course of study. OR. B. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in CHILD development technology which must include a minimum of 480 hours of practical training, supervised by college instructors, in a college operated CHILD care learning laboratory. OR. C. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in CHILD development technology or CHILD care and two years paid experience in a licensed CHILD care facility.

8 OR. D. Two years paid experience as a caregiver in a licensed CHILD care facility, and either (1) a current CHILD Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CECPR), or (2) a Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood care and Development (DECCD) CHILD care Director's Credential or MDHS OCY. CHILD care Director's Credential, or (3) 24 semester hours credit with a grade of C or better from an accredited college or university in courses specific to early childhood. OR. E. A verified certificate from the licensing agency certifying that the individual was qualified to be the director of a licensed CHILD care facility prior to January 1, 2000, in the State of Mississippi .

9 If you do not meet all of the above requirements, you must hire a qualified director to run your center. 4. WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR IN A PROSPECTIVE FACILITY (BUILDING AND PLAYGROUND)? The following items must be evaluated: 1. Zoning approval 2. Proposed facility must meet all fire safety standards listed on MSDH Form #333, Uniform Fire Safety Survey and any additional local fire codes. 3. Wastewater disposal and potable (drinking) water approval is required if the proposed facility is on an individual wastewater disposal system and/or well. 4. Playground area (at least 75 square feet per CHILD in a fenced in playground) must be well drained and free of hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions.

10 All playgrounds must be tested for lead. See attached information on lead testing. 5. Building: If the building was constructed before 1965, it must be tested for lead. See attached information on lead testing. A. Ground floor space. B. Two remote exits that must open outward and cannot be through the kitchen. C. Forty square feet per CHILD in infant areas (less than 12 months of age). Forty-five square feet per CHILD (12 months but less than 24 months). Thirty-five square feet per CHILD for all others. *Kitchen space, bathrooms, hallways, closets, etc. do not count as usable floor space.*. D. One toilet and one lavatory for every fifteen children or portion thereof, not counting diaper changing lavatories.